The honest answer is "it depends" — so here's exactly what it depends on, what a good quote includes, and how to compare prices fairly.
Anyone who quotes a firm price for a roof without seeing it is guessing. The cost of real roofing work depends on the type and size of the roof, the materials, how it's accessed, and what's found underneath the old covering. Two roofs that look the same from the street can be hundreds of pounds apart.
Rather than give you a number that turns out to be wrong, here's what actually drives the price — so when you do get a quote, you'll understand every line of it.
A simple pitched roof is straightforward; complex roofs with multiple slopes, valleys, dormers, and hips take more time and skill. Flat roofs and pitched roofs are priced differently again, because the materials and methods are entirely different.
Concrete tiles are the budget-friendly option; clay tiles and natural slate cost more to buy and take more skill to lay. On flat roofs, felt is cheaper than EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass, but the modern systems last far longer — so the cheapest option isn't always the best value.
Most roofing is priced by area, so a larger roof costs more overall. A steeper pitch is harder and slower to work on safely, which also feeds into the price. A bungalow roof and a three-storey townhouse roof of the same area aren't the same job.
Safe access is a real cost. Most re-roofs and many repairs need scaffolding or a tower, and how easy it is to get equipment to the property — terraced, detached, restricted street access — all affects the figure. A roofer who skips proper access is cutting a corner that matters.
Once the old covering comes off, the battens, felt, and timbers underneath might need replacing. A good roofer allows for this and tells you up front; the worst surprises come from quotes that ignore what's beneath the surface.
A handful of slipped tiles or a localised leak is a small job. A roof that's reached the end of its life needs a full re-roof. An honest survey tells you which you're actually dealing with — and a good roofer won't sell you a re-roof when a repair will do.
Lead flashing, chimney repointing, and new guttering or fascias are often done at the same time as roof work because the scaffolding is already up. Bundling them in can save money overall — but each adds to the quote, so they should be itemised, not hidden.
Roofing is weather-dependent. A job that has to be planned around dry spells, or made safe quickly after storm damage, carries different costs to a straightforward planned replacement. We'll always be realistic about timescale rather than promise the impossible.
Tell us about your roof and we'll survey it and give you a clear, no-obligation quote — every line explained.
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